Method of and means for utilizing steam generated by quenching coke.



H. KOPPERS. METHUD OF AND MEANS FOR UTILIZING STEAM GENERATED BY QUBNGHING (JOKE.

APPLIGATION TILED 0G1.28, 1913.

1,1 1 6397., I Patented N013, 1914.

barren srap'rns PATENT enrich.

HEINRICH KOEL PERS, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR,

GERMANY, AssIsNoR T0 H. oreans COMPANY, or omondo, iLL'tNoIs, A oonronarron.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR UTILIZING STEAM GENERATEI) BY QUENCHING COKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed October 28, 1813. Serial No. 797,735.

To all whom it may concern:

it known that l, IlEINIHCII Koreans, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Essen-onthe-Ruhr, in Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of and Means for Utilizing Steam Generated by Quenching Coke, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for clliciently utilizing the steain grei'ierated by the quenching of coke taken from gas-generators. It is in principle highly desirable to utiiize this steam in the generator itself, for the reason that some admixtures present in the steam, such as "ammonia and sulfur compounds, militate ago inst the use thereof for many other purposes, whereas the return of these admixtures to the generator is in itself useful in that it constitutes a saving of more or less valuable by-produc'ts. But the steam is generated at intervals having no direct relation to the rate at which Steam is required by the generator, so that in order to utilize the steam some system of storage must be adopted. Stcan storage bells or domes, of the gasholder type, are the most obvious means for this purpose, but even if the periods of steam supply were separated by intervals of only a few minutes the storage chamber would have to be of inconvenient dimensions, and where the intervals are of the duration associated with ordinary gas-generating practice the use of holders for storing the steam itself is quite impracticable for economic reasons. The well-known method of utilizing, wastestcam, consisting in introducing the steam into water, to which'it gives of? heat, and placing the water under vacuum, whereby it is caused to evolve steam, has the advantage of requiring much less Storage space, but inasmuch as the vacuum essential to enable the water, below normal boiling, point, to evolve steam, this method is obviously not adapted for utilizing the steam generated by quenching coke and utilizing the steam in the gas generator.

My invention, however, enables the method of utilizing the steam, by importing its heat to water to be etfectivcly a plied to the purpose de med. To this on I heat Water by means of the steam, and pass the air used in the generator through the hot water, in a very finely divided state. It is well known that evaporation of water into air or other gas with which it is in intimate contact takes place at temperatures below boilin point, the vapor being generated in accorc ance with Daltons law with a partial pressure. It is, accordingly, not essential to the evaporation of water below 100 C. that the water is under vacuum; evaporation also takes place if the water is brought into intimate contact with air not saturated with water vapor. Though this method of utilizing the steam generated by quenching coke is not a direct method, it has very valuable advantages, and the storage of heat in the intervals between the 'uenching operations is most conveniently c ected. Of course a much greater quantity of heat can be stored in a given volume of water than in the same volume of steam. Though the steam derived from the quenching operation undergoes condensation in the water, there is no loss of the by-products referred to, inasmuch as the water becomes enriched therewith and they subsequently pass into the air, their evaporation also taking place at partial pressure. Solid admixtures, on the other hand, are retained by the water and used a certain amount of steanrpressuro would of course be required, and this would necessitate the use of steam-tight quenching appliances, which would certainly be inconvenient. In my invention the primary gen erating of the steam can take place without pressure, the air forced into the generator by the blower serving as a vehicle for the steam generated from the hot water through which it passes.

Apparatus suitable for carrying my invention into effect is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawin In the drawing, 10 designates a cult of retorts, from which the coke is drop ed into a truck 11 having perforated 'Wal s. The filled truck is run on to a platform 12, which can be lowered into a water tank 13, the quenching pit, the latter being at the bottom of a tower 15 having a door 14 for ad mission of the truck, The door 14: is closed, and the truck is lowered into the water.

construction to the tower 15, the water flow- 7 the upper part of the tower 19, and sucks air The steam generated by the quenching rises in the tower, in which it comes into intimate contact with water trickling down a Zig-zag series of ballles. By this means the steam is condensed, giving oil its heat to the water. For insuring a very complete exchange or" heat a pump it) forces water from the storage tanlr 3.? to the tower, and the water returns from the latter to the tank. A practically complete absorption of the heat of the steam is thus insured. Hot water from the tank 17 is delivered by a pump 18 to a heatexchanging tower 19, which is similar in ing down a zig-zag series of battles 20, and then returning to the tank 17.

The blower 21 furnishing air to the gas generator 23 has its intake pipe joined to through holes 22 at the bottom of the tower, so that this air is drawn upward through the shower of hot water descending in the tower. In the course of its passage through the tower 19 the air is heated and becomes saturated with water vapor, prior to passing to the gas generator By regulating the circulation of the water, and accordingly its temperature, the trans fer and storage of heat can be regulated at will. The capacity of the tank 17 is such that the water is able to absorb the heat of the intermittent supplies of steam and also to furnish heat to the air at an adequately uniform rate during the intervals between the quenching operations, the fluctuations of temperature of the air supply being no greater than is admissible in practice. To reduce loss of heat by conduction and radiation the tank 17 and the towers 15 and 1.) are preferably ackcted or lagged with heatinsulating material.

l l hat 1 claim is 1. The method of utilizing steam generated by successive operations of quenching coke, which consists in imparting the heat of the successive supplies of steam to water and bringing the heated water into intimate contact with a stream of air flowing to a gas generator, whcreo'v evaporation of the water into said stream or air is ellected.

2. The method of utilizing steam generated by successive operations of quenching coke, which consists in imparting the heat of the successive supplies of steam to a stream of water circulating tl'lrough a storage tank, and bringing water from said storage tank into intimate contact with a stream of air flowing to a as generator, whereby evaporation of the water into said stream oi air is effected.

3. The method of utilizing steam generated by successive operations of quenching coke, which consists in imparting the hca" of the successive supplies oil? stcam to a stream of water circulating through a storage tank and bringing water from said storage tank into intimate contact with a stream of air flowing to a gas generator, whereby evaporation of the water into said stream of air is effected, the rate of circulation of the 'ater being regulated to maintain the variations of temperature within the limits admissible in practice.

Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising in combination a col-:equenching appliance, a water-holder, means for circulating a stream of water whereby water is taken through said water-holder and into contact with steam generated by said quenching appliance, means adapted to propcl a stream of air to a gas generator, and means for taking water from said water holder into contact with air propelled by said propelling means.

5. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising in combination a colcc-rpienching appliance, a water-holder emails for circulating a stream of water whereby water is taken through said water-holder into contact with steam generated by said (niche-hing appliance, means adapted to propel a stream of air to a gas generator,'and i'neans for circulating a stream of water whereby water is taken through said watcr-lmldcr and into contact with air propelled by said propelling means.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

El N It is C ll i i 0 I E i -8 

